The Importance of Diabetic Foot Care and How Medicare Can Help

Fri, Jan 29, 2021 9:16 PM Medicare

In many ways, the hallmarks of diabetes, elevated blood sugar and insulin resistance, affect your body. The disorder increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, loss of vision, failure of the kidneys, and more. Bad circulation can also be caused, contributing to nerve damage. This is particularly dangerous for your feet since they are more vulnerable to circulatory problems because of their distance from your heart. In order to help protect your feet, this post discusses the value of diabetic foot care.

How Diabetes Affects Your Foot?

There is a high risk of neuropathy (nerve damage) and foot ulcers in people who have diabetes.

The majority of diabetes patients are affected by diabetic neuropathy. It is caused by increased blood levels of fats and sugars. Four forms of diabetic neuropathy exist:

• Focal: Indicates single damage to the nerve, usually to the head, torso, hand, or leg

• Proximal: An uncommon form of damage to the nerves affecting the hip, thigh, or buttocks, normally on one side only.

• Peripheral: Typically affects the legs and feet, but can occur in the arms and hands as well.

• Autonomic: Affects the nerves that regulate the inner organs

The most common type is peripheral neuropathy. A tingling feeling or discomfort in the feet can be induced. You can also not feel any pain at all, however. And that can be extremely dangerous since pain is the way your body tells you something's wrong.

Without you realizing it, blisters, cuts, and sores can shape. And when you still have low circulation, you can't repair those injuries properly.

Bad blood flow also triggers the infection of diabetic foot wounds. This can cause gangrene when left untreated and ultimately lead to amputation of the toe, foot, or even part of your body.

What raises the risk of diabetic foot problems?

Anyone with diabetes is at risk of having problems with their feet. You are at elevated risk if you:

• They are over 60 years of age
• Have high cholesterol
• Not physically active
• Do not follow a healthy diet
• Smoke
• Have unregulated levels of high blood sugar
• Overweight
• Have elevated blood pressure

How to decrease the risk of diabetic foot ulcers?

Tackling each of the threats mentioned above is the best way to reduce the risk of diabetic foot ulcers and other problems.

Stop if you smoke. Smoking causes your circulatory system a lot of pain. Nicotine causes blood vessels to shrink, making it much harder to pump blood into them for your smoke-damaged heart.

To regulate blood sugar and weight levels, work with your doctor. Ask your doctor for guidelines about food and exercise, in addition to medications to manage your diabetes. And be involved on a regular basis, not just once or twice a week. Even a 10-minute stroll around the block leads to improving circulation.

 

 

Diabetic Foot Care Tips

The following diabetic foot care tips are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to help protect your feet. Talk to your doctor for tips unique to your condition.

Wear shoes or slippers all the time, even inside your home

Wear socks with your shoes and check them for pebbles or something that might hurt your feet. That involves the lining of the shoe, which should be smooth to avoid hurting the foot.

Have the doctor examine your feet

Ask your doctor during your annual health test as well as during any checkups to examine your feet. And make an appointment with your doctor if you do find any irregularities during your regular foot inspections.

Wear quality shoes that suit well

Wear shoes that are often made for the activity and make sure they match properly. Until buying, try them on, ideally shopping at the end of the day when the feet are normally a little bigger. In a brick and mortar shop where you can put them on, first, try to find the shoes you want if you have to buy them online. To ensure they're comfortable, walk around in them. Don't buy shoes expecting them to feel better after they're "broken in." As soon as you put them on, shoes should feel comfortable.

Wash your feet with warm water every day

Do not use hot water to wash your feet and stop soaking them. Dry them completely after washing before adding lotion. To stop skin cracking, moisturize the tops and bottoms of your feet. Avoid the areas between the toes, though. There, applying moisturizer can result in fungal infections.

Check your feet every day

To see the bottom of your foot, you might need a mirror or the assistance of a friend or family member. Look for cuts, blisters, redness, corns, swelling, and calluses. Check for improvements in the skin and toenails too. Regular inspection of your feet helps you to easily find injuries but also sets a foundation for what "normal" looks like for your feet. That makes it a lot easier to spot something that's not natural.

Improving the flow of blood to your feet

Help boost the flow by raising the feet while seated. And, without shifting, try not to sit for long stretches. Get up, walk around, or wiggle your toes every hour for a few minutes to keep your blood pumping through your legs and feet.

See a specialist for corn and callus removal

You can quickly cut too deeply if you have any nerve damage and attempt to remove corn or calluses. Visit your physician or a podiatrist instead. Also, as these can cause burns, avoid over-the-counter products.

Perform exercises that are light to moderate

Great aerobic exercises that help improve blood flow and overall health are walking, biking, and swimming. To decide which things you can do safely, talk to your doctor first.

 

How Medicare can help?

A key component of optimal health is maintaining a healthy weight, but it is particularly important for patients who have diabetes. If you have a BMI of 30 or higher, Medicare Part B includes behavioral treatment for obesity, including screenings and rehabilitation when a primary provider accepts assignment provided services.

 

 

 

 

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